DECIDES TO MOVE. 81 



Another point to settle was the possession of 

 the apple. The next time the thrush, not 

 warned by previous operations, hurried up to 

 claim a slice of the fruit which his foe had 

 marked for his own, he was met by resistance. 

 To avoid the rush, the mocking-bird lifted him- 

 self a few inches, but came down on the same 

 spot. The thrush, astonished, but thrush-like 

 to the last, stood motionless where he had 

 stopped, his body drawn to a point, bill slightly 

 open and turned toward the bold intruder. 

 That bird ignored his attitude and placidly 

 went on eating, and three similar experiences 

 ended that annoyance. 



One thing still remained unsettled : the 

 mocking-bird decided to change his residence. 

 No reason was apparent, but he preferred a 

 special place in the room, a certain end of a 

 particular shelf ; and no matter what cage was 

 there, he insisted on taking possession. The 

 day he determined on this removal, he went in 

 while the resident — the thrush — was out, and, 

 having eaten, proceeded to the upper perches, 

 and began jumping back and forth on them, as 

 if at home. In due time the owner returned, 

 visited the food-dishes, and started for the 

 upper regions, but was met by a threatening 

 attitude from the bird already there. He 

 seemed to think the matter not worth quarrel- 



